Born: December 29, 1808
Death: July 31. 1875
Political party: Northern Democratic party, Unionist
Terms: April 15, 1865- March 4, 1869
Vice president: None
Andrew Johnson was faced with a tough situation during his short presidency. He was Lincoln's vice president during the second administration, and when Lincoln was assassinated, he took over as president as the horrible civil war was at a close. Johnson faced the hard times of Reconstruction, the rebuilding of the south after the destructive civil war which emancipated the slaves and gave them equal rights to the whiteman. Even though the new freedmen were free Johnson had a dislike for them and worked against them. He also worked against congress becuase of their republican majority and his democratic ways. If one ws to grade Johnson on his administration the best grade to give him would be an F becuase he hardly accomplished anything during his presidency.
The goals of Johnson's administration were to get a formal reconstruction plan for the south, which his plan was Lincoln's plan of letting the southern states readmit to the union if ten percent of there voters from the 1860 election had pledge an alliegence to the union. He wanted to make sure he could restor the Union as fast as possible with little conflict, which did not happen. Another goal of the Johnson Administration whcih was based off Lincoln's administration was to give voting rights and other civil rights to the freedmen. This would also ensure secured protection of the freedmen and also a sharecropping system that would ensure that the freedmen could earn income and it would give land to them from their former masters,however, this system was unsuccessful as it was similar to slavery in the way that the freedmen paid for rent whcih was high and gained virtually no income. These goals of Johnson's Administration would be a struggle for the reconstructing south and also create much contreversy between Johnson and the republicans.
Johnson Relationship with congress was undiputedly the worst between any president and congress. The problem was that during Johnson's term congress was mostly republican, whic Johnson himself was a democrat. From 1865 to 1867 there were 42 republicans and only ten democrats in the senate while in the house there were 149 republicans to 42 democrats. From 1867 to 1869 there was once again 42 republicans and eleven democrats in the senate and 143 Republicans to 49 democrats in the House. Johnson came up with his own reconstruction plan in may 1865 which required the southern states to ratify the 13th amendement and repeal the ordinances of confederation. The republicans were not sure about this plan and also did not like the fact that perhaps even if they retified the thirteenth amendement they could still lead to slavery. Johnson and congress bashed head once again when Johnson vetoed a bill that wouldextend the life of the freedmens bureau. Congress fought back in march 1866 when they passed a civil rights bill whcih secured citizenship of the blacks, which Johnson again vetoed. Congress then passed the 14th amendement against Johnson's wishes. These veto's showed that Andrew Johnson was a racist, and his goal was only to restore the union and not help out the previously suffering blacks. This also showed that if Johnson could not compromise with congress his presidency would be a failure.
The most positive act of the Johnson Administration was the deal made with Russia to buy Alaska. This purchase mainly urged on by secretary of state William H. Seward for he saw much prospects in the large frigid area. This Ultimatley was a good deal for The United States because it was a large area of land and there was talk of furs, fish, and Gold, which would be very profitible for the U.S. This was also very good for in the future Alaska would be a very good resource for natural resources like oil, and gas. This territory was first laughed at by the United states citizens but once gold was envolved many rushed to Alaska for hopes of striking the precious metal. The most negative outcome of Johnson's administration was Johnson's inability to compromise with congress. This effected the success of his presidency as he did not accomplish much. He could have secured the rights of the freedmen, reconstructed the south at a faster pace and could have been one of the most sucessful presidents in U.S. history in the hard times that he faced. By vetoing the reconstruction act of 1867, the 14th amendement, and the civil rights bill he made hard times for the blacks all across the south as he also because of his racist ways ignored the threat of the black codes that were being enforced in the south, that took away the rights of the blacks that had just won their rights.. Johnson's administration only effected the future presidents by crippling their power over congress and giving more authority to congress to make decisions that could be better or worse for the country. Johnson did have one positive action during his though, which was the purchase of Alaska. This Territory gained economical profits for the united states, as gold and eventually oil would gain major roles in the United states government whcih would be cultivated in this area. Alaska would aslo have a impact on whaling, shiping, and fishing.
At the end of Johnson's administration, even though Johnson vetoed many of the acts passed during reconstruction, the country was better off not because of Johnson, but because of the congresses actions of comanding reconstruction and setting rights and citizenship for all of the freedmen the country was headed into a peaceful reconstruction after Johnson left office. Johnson did corrupt the south though as he ignored the black codes and the K.K.K. that were terrorizing many blacks in the south. This lead to racism in the south evn to this day and blacks in the south really didn't secure their full rights untill a century later. All in all Andrew Johnson was put in the wrong position during rough times, and his ignorance inability to compromise hurt the nation more than it helped. Johnson deserves an F for his administration for he did not work to his full potential to help the struggling south and if he had reconstruction would have been more efficient. Bibliography:
Andrew Johnson
Born: December 29, 1808Death: July 31. 1875
Political party: Northern Democratic party, Unionist
Terms: April 15, 1865- March 4, 1869
Vice president: None
Andrew Johnson was faced with a tough situation during his short presidency. He was Lincoln's vice president during the second administration, and when Lincoln was assassinated, he took over as president as the horrible civil war was at a close. Johnson faced the hard times of Reconstruction, the rebuilding of the south after the destructive civil war which emancipated the slaves and gave them equal rights to the whiteman. Even though the new freedmen were free Johnson had a dislike for them and worked against them. He also worked against congress becuase of their republican majority and his democratic ways. If one ws to grade Johnson on his administration the best grade to give him would be an F becuase he hardly accomplished anything during his presidency.
The goals of Johnson's administration were to get a formal reconstruction plan for the south, which his plan was Lincoln's plan of letting the southern states readmit to the union if ten percent of there voters from the 1860 election had pledge an alliegence to the union. He wanted to make sure he could restor the Union as fast as possible with little conflict, which did not happen. Another goal of the Johnson Administration whcih was based off Lincoln's administration was to give voting rights and other civil rights to the freedmen. This would also ensure secured protection of the freedmen and also a sharecropping system that would ensure that the freedmen could earn income and it would give land to them from their former masters,however, this system was unsuccessful as it was similar to slavery in the way that the freedmen paid for rent whcih was high and gained virtually no income. These goals of Johnson's Administration would be a struggle for the reconstructing south and also create much contreversy between Johnson and the republicans.
Johnson Relationship with congress was undiputedly the worst between any president and congress. The problem was that during Johnson's term congress was mostly republican, whic Johnson himself was a democrat. From 1865 to 1867 there were 42 republicans and only ten democrats in the senate while in the house there were 149 republicans to 42 democrats. From 1867 to 1869 there was once again 42 republicans and eleven democrats in the senate and 143 Republicans to 49 democrats in the House. Johnson came up with his own reconstruction plan in may 1865 which required the southern states to ratify the 13th amendement and repeal the ordinances of confederation. The republicans were not sure about this plan and also did not like the fact that perhaps even if they retified the thirteenth amendement they could still lead to slavery. Johnson and congress bashed head once again when Johnson vetoed a bill that wouldextend the life of the freedmens bureau. Congress fought back in march 1866 when they passed a civil rights bill whcih secured citizenship of the blacks, which Johnson again vetoed. Congress then passed the 14th amendement against Johnson's wishes. These veto's showed that Andrew Johnson was a racist, and his goal was only to restore the union and not help out the previously suffering blacks. This also showed that if Johnson could not compromise with congress his presidency would be a failure.
The most positive act of the Johnson Administration was the deal made with Russia to buy Alaska. This purchase mainly urged on by secretary of state William H. Seward for he saw much prospects in the large frigid area. This Ultimatley was a good deal for The United States because it was a large area of land and there was talk of furs, fish, and Gold, which would be very profitible for the U.S. This was also very good for in the future Alaska would be a very good resource for natural resources like oil, and gas. This territory was first laughed at by the United states citizens but once gold was envolved many rushed to Alaska for hopes of striking the precious metal. The most negative outcome of Johnson's administration was Johnson's inability to compromise with congress. This effected the success of his presidency as he did not accomplish much. He could have secured the rights of the freedmen, reconstructed the south at a faster pace and could have been one of the most sucessful presidents in U.S. history in the hard times that he faced. By vetoing the reconstruction act of 1867, the 14th amendement, and the civil rights bill he made hard times for the blacks all across the south as he also because of his racist ways ignored the threat of the black codes that were being enforced in the south, that took away the rights of the blacks that had just won their rights.. Johnson's administration only effected the future presidents by crippling their power over congress and giving more authority to congress to make decisions that could be better or worse for the country. Johnson did have one positive action during his though, which was the purchase of Alaska. This Territory gained economical profits for the united states, as gold and eventually oil would gain major roles in the United states government whcih would be cultivated in this area. Alaska would aslo have a impact on whaling, shiping, and fishing.
At the end of Johnson's administration, even though Johnson vetoed many of the acts passed during reconstruction, the country was better off not because of Johnson, but because of the congresses actions of comanding reconstruction and setting rights and citizenship for all of the freedmen the country was headed into a peaceful reconstruction after Johnson left office. Johnson did corrupt the south though as he ignored the black codes and the K.K.K. that were terrorizing many blacks in the south. This lead to racism in the south evn to this day and blacks in the south really didn't secure their full rights untill a century later. All in all Andrew Johnson was put in the wrong position during rough times, and his ignorance inability to compromise hurt the nation more than it helped. Johnson deserves an F for his administration for he did not work to his full potential to help the struggling south and if he had reconstruction would have been more efficient.
Bibliography:
"American President: Andrew Johnson." Miller Center of Public Affairs. Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia. Web. 05 Nov. 2009. http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/johnson.
"Andrew Johnson |." The White House. White House U.S. Government. Web. 05 Nov. 2009. <http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/andrewjohnson>.
Smith, Carter. Presidents Every Question Answered. Irvington, New York: Hylas publishing, 2004.